Is closing border crossings worth the cost savings?

Border agencies in the U.S. and Canada are considering closing eight border posts and operating others by remote, according to a leaked document obtained by CBC News.


Some Canada-U.S. border crossings would be unstaffed and operated by remote. (CBC)The document, created by the bi-national Small Port Working Group, shows the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are looking to close three border posts in Manitoba, two in B.C., and one each in Alberta, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

Another 23 crossing, stretching from Fosterville, N.B., to Nelway, B.C., could be turned into unstaffed border posts where travellers must speak to border guards through a camera connected to a distant headquarters.

Jean-Pierre Fortin, president of the Customs and Immigration Union, said he had some concerns how remote technology would work.

"What about if the person actually is not admissible? And he's right in front of your camera, and you're talking to him via a phone line or something -- you need to have somebody on site," Fortin said.

The latest cutbacks come on top of earlier closures of checkpoints in April.

Do you think closing checkpoints at the Canada-U.S. border is worth the cost savings? Do you have concerns about replacing staffed posts with ones operated remotely? Let us know what you think in the comments.



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